[LWVNM Action] Why we do what we do

[Richard Mason]

*Why we do what we do!*


This September 10th article in New Mexico InDepth lays out the importance
of fair redistricting for an effective democracy. Although we somewhat
disagree with the final sentence: “But now, the national tumult over
redistricting has significantly damaged
<https://nmindepth.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1d2ab093d81b992e50978b363&id=dcc23965d9&e=abe34880ce>
 this growing movement.”



Yes, it was a temporary setback, but more importantly it illustrated the
absurdity of having politicians drawing districts.



The League of Women Voters of New Mexico is committed to continue the
campaign to create an independent redistricting commission for New Mexico’s
state offices.

*Does the mid-decade redistricting war signal a democracy death spiral?*
*Marjorie Childress New Mexico InDepth - September 10, 2025*

 Link: Does the mid-decade redistricting war signal a democracy death
spiral?
<https://mailchi.mp/nmindepth.com/does-the-mid-decade-redistricting-war-signal-a-democracy-death-spiral?e=abe34880ce>

For political hounds, there are very few undertakings so full of drama as
the periodic redrawing of the geographic boundaries of political districts.
But for most people, the once-a-decade redistricting process is more likely
pure arcana. Even the term “redistricting” threatens to put one to sleep.

That may have changed this summer when an already polarized country
witnessed the brute power politics of Texas Republicans. For many, it may
have been an eye-opening moment about how partisan technocrats can maintain
power through data-driven manipulation of political district boundaries.

Given that the Republican party today holds a very small majority
<https://nmindepth.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1d2ab093d81b992e50978b363&id=2ee4f41826&e=abe34880ce>
in
the House, that Democrats take control after 2026 would be a pretty good
bet in a normal year. That’s because in the midterm elections after a
presidential election year, the president’s party more often than not loses
seats
<https://nmindepth.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1d2ab093d81b992e50978b363&id=82c95b1dbc&e=abe34880ce>
in
the U.S. House of Representatives, and with that, control of the House.

But this isn’t a normal year. Texas, a state where Republicans have proven
before
<https://nmindepth.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1d2ab093d81b992e50978b363&id=2d03ef9cf1&e=abe34880ce>
they
are willing to tinker with geographic district lines to ensure they capture
more political power, has made sure of that. This summer, President Donald
Trump urged Republicans in that big state to redraw their maps, pronto, to
help Republicans keep control of Congress in 2026, and thereby protect his
own power.

They did just that. And now, in a democratic death spiral, Democratic
states are maneuvering to do the same.



Why a death spiral? Because when lawmakers draw a political district to
advantage their own party, called partisan gerrymandering, the end result
more often than not is a general election with a predictable ending. Seats
that are safe for a political party mean the only real election is during
the primary. Most people don’t have good choices during elections if they
live in districts with such safe seats. What sort of democracy is that?


*New Mexico isn’t immune to gerrymandering. Safe seats for state lawmakers
in particular are much more common now than they were not too long ago.*


That’s why a growing number of our citizen lawmakers who believe in
democracy have become partial to the idea of independent redistricting
commissions. The idea is to take the politics out of redistricting so that
more people have more choices during elections. But now, the national
tumult over redistricting has significantly damaged
<https://nmindepth.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1d2ab093d81b992e50978b363&id=dcc23965d9&e=abe34880ce>
 this growing movement.
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